Hammer construction

ABSTRACT

A hammer construction including a support member overhanging the hammer poll and defining a plurality of nail body receiving slots of different lengths perpendicular to the face of the poll in an ordered arrangement and a nail head receiving recess at the upper end of each slot. A head supporting projection overlies each recess and defines a hooked tip extending over the next adjacent slot intermediate its ends to assist in retaining a nail in the slot and the hammer head is magnetized to do the same. The hammer head may be provided with a V-shaped flange member to receive nail heads thereunder and remove same. The handle may be equipped with a measuring device or a leveling device.

United States Patent 91 Crowder HAMMER CONSTRUCTION 22 Filed: Nov. 2,1971 21 Appl. No.: 194,884

Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. Assistant ExaminerMark S, BicksAttorney-B. J. Powell [5 7 ABSTRACT A hammer construction including asupport member overhanging the hammer poll and defining a plurality ofnail body receiving slots of different lengths perpendicular to the faceof the poll in an ordered arrangement and a nail head receiving recessat the upper end of each slot. A head supporting projection overlieseach recess and defines a hooked tip extending over the next adjacentslot intermediate its ends to assist in retaining a nail in the slot andthe hammer head is magnetized to do the same. The hammer head may beprovided with a V-shaped flange member to receive nail heads thereunderand remove same. The handle may be equipped with a measuring device or aleveling device.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures [52] [1.8. CI. 145/30 A, 145/29 [51] Int.Cl B2511 1/04 [58] Field of Search 7/1 F, l M, 10; 33/333, 334, 375;145/29 R, 30 R, 30 A, 30.5, 64

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,742,032 12/1929 Gregersen145/30 R 418,539 12/1889 Stark 145/30 R 1,419,567 6/1922 Johnson 145/29R 1,702,689 2/1929 Duemler 33/375 3,302,233 2/1967 Sebastiani 33/334FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 72.002 12/1945 Norway 145/30R Q1 l I l 134 (A HAMMER CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION These and other problems and disadvantages associated with theprior art are overcome by the invention disclosed herein by providing aplurality of different lengths of nail receiving slots about the head ofthe hammer substantially parallel to the centerline of the head andmagnetic means for retaining the nails within the slots until thedriving of the 'nail is started. Extension means may be provided toincrease the effective reach to drive the nail and nail removal meansmay be provided to remove the nail after driving has started if theproper location of the nail has not been achieved. The slots are ofdifferent lengths to provide for different size nails so that the lengthof extension of each size nail past the head of the hammer will beapproximately the same thus facilitating the starting of the nail.

Another embodiment of the invention may be provided as an adapter havingthe nail receiving slots therein and which can be selectively affixedto'the head of a conventional hammer to provide the same nail holdingcapabilities as the other embodiment.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent upon consideration of the following detailed descriptionand accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a face view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse crosssectional view taken along 44 in FIG. 1;

FIG. '5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 55 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of theinvention;

' FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an adapter embodying the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8; and,

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal crosssectional view of the inventionincorporating a measuring device; and,

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the invention incorporating aleveling mechanism therein.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose specificembodiments of the invention, however, it is to be understood that theinventive concept is not limited thereto since it may be embodied inother forms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring particularlyto FIGS. 1-4, a hammer 10 is illustrated including a first embodiment ofthe invention. Hammer 10 includes a head I1 and'handle 12. The head 11is provided with the usual poll 14, nail removing claws 15 and a mainbody 16 with eye 18 for receiving the handle 12. A reduced diameterconnector 19 is integral with the body 16 at its one end and poll 14 atits other end to position the poll 14 so that its centerline CLP issubstantially perpendicular to the centerline CL-H of handle 12 as isconventionally done. This positions the plane of the nail driving face20 substantially parallel to the centerline CL-H.

The forward end of head 11 is provided with an arcuate support 17 whichis integral with connector 19 and has a thickness such that it presentsan overhanging portion 21 projecting out over the peripheral surface 22of poll 14. It will also be noted that support 17 extends substantiallyhalf way around connector 19 and it is understood that the locationaround the connector 19 at which the support 17 is located may bechanged as described herein.

The overhanging portion 21 of support 17 defines a plurality ofcircumferentially space slots 24 therein which have a generallysemi-circular cross-section and extend parallel to the centerline CL-P.While four such slots 24 are shown in the figures it is to be understoodthat different numbers of slots may be formed as will be explained. Eachslot 24 opens onto that surface of portion 21 adjacent the surface 22 ofpoll 14 with the slots having different lengths. The slots 24 arearranged so that their length increases or decreases as one movescircumferentially about the support 17 as will become apparent. Thediameter of slots 24 are such that the main body of a different standardsize nail N, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3, will just fit into thatslot 24 which is a prescribed distance a shorter than the length of thenail. Thus, when the standard nail is positioned in its proper slot 24,it will project past the driving face 20 of poll 14 a prescribeddistance b.

A nail head receiving recess 25 is provided at the end of each slot 24opposite the poll 14 and extends generally transversely of the axis ofslot 14. This recess 25 is dimensioned sufficiently to just receive thehead of nail N when its main body is within slot 24. A projection 26extends out over each recess 25 opposite slot 24 and is dimensioned sothat its driving surface 28 covers the head of the nail in recess 25.The slots 24 are so located that the projection 26 associated with eachrecess 25 overlies a portion of the adjacent slot 24 having a lengthgreater than that associated with the particular projection 26. Thatportion of projection 26 overlying a slot 24 is undercut at 29 as bestseen in FIG. 4 to form a continuation of the cross-sectional shape ofthe particular slot 24. Thus, a hook shaped tip 30 extends partiallyover the intermediate slots 24 to assist in retaining the particularnail N in its proper slot 24. The tip 30 is so dimensioned to allow thenail to be inserted in slot 24 yet helps retain it therein once it is inplace. Because the centrifugal force generated as the hammer MP is swungtends to force the nail N directly outwardly along a path parallel tothe centerline CL-H of the handle 12, the overhanging tip 30 iseffective to retain the nail. This is especially true if the slots 24are located in that area of the poll 14 from the front to the back whenmoving counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 2.

The entire head 11 is magnetized so that once a nail N has been placedin its proper slot 24, it will be forcibly retained therein. The head 11may be magnetized by winding a wire therearound and momentarilyconnecting same to a direct current source such as an automobilebattery.

In use, the nail N to be driven is selected and inserted into the properslot 24 with its head in recess 25. This causes the tip of the nail toproject the prescribed distance b" beyond the face 20 of poll 14. Thehandle 12 is then grasped and struck one blow in conventional manner tostart the driving of the nail. The tip 30 and magnetic forces in head 11prevent the nail from being ejected from the slot 24 before it isstarted. The magnetic force in head 11 is not so great as to preventrelease of the nail from slot 24 once it is started to allow thecompletion of the driving of the nail in conven-- tional manner bystriking the head of the nail with the face 20 of poll 14. As indicatedearlier, the slots 24 may be located anywhere about the poll 14 as longas their ordered arrangement is maintained.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outboard end of the handle 12 isprovided with a pair of passages 34 which are perpendicular to eachother and to the centerline CL-I-I of handle 12. One passage 34 isparallel to the centerline CL-P of head 11 and the other isperpendicular thereto. By inserting an appropriately sized nail throughone of the passages 34 and holding the hammer adjacent a wall in whichit is desirable to locate the studs therein so that the centerline CL-Hof handle 12 is approximately parallel to the surface of the wall andthe face 20 of poll 14 or the side of head 11 is closely adjacent butnot touching the wall, the magnetic forces in head 11 will attract anyfen-magnetic material in the wall (usually a nail in a stud or a metalstud) and cause the head 11 to swing into alignment with the stud tolocate same.

SECOND EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, the secondembodiment of the invention is embodied in a hammer 100 with a head 101and a handle 102. The head 101 includes a poll 104 with a drivingsurface 105 and a peripheral edge 106. The main body 108 of head 101 islarger in diameter than poll 104 and concentrically located with respectthereto to provide an overhanging portion 109 similar to portion 21 ofhammer 10.

A plurality of slots 1 l0, recesses l 11 and projections 112 areprovided on body 108 corresponding in location and use with slots 24,recesses 25 and projections 26 of the hammer 10. Also, the head 101 ismagnetized similar to head 11 of hammer 10. Thus, it will be seen thathammer 100 can be used to start nails in the same manner as hammer 10.

Instead of claws as provided on hammer 10, hammer 100 is provided with anail pulling unit 114. Unit 114 can be used to pull nails that have justbeen started with the hammer 100 if they are improperly located as willbe apparent. Unit 114 is a V-shaped member 115 integral with andextending tangentially back from body 108 toward handle 102. Member 115has a pair of diverging flanges 116 defining a V-shaped opening 118therebetween and a nail head receiving cavity 119 under the flanges.Thus, to remove a nail on which driving has just started, the unit 114is manipulated until the nail head is received within cavity 119 underflanges 116. The hammer is then pulled so that flanges 116 dislodge thenail from the material in which it is started.

The handle 102 is extendable and includes a plurality of interlockingsections 120. Fasteners 121 or locking rings 122 may be provided to holdsections together. Thus, virtually unlimited reach can be provided withhammer 100.

THIRD EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a third embodiment of theinvention is incorporated in an adapter 200 for use on a standard hammerl-I having a poll P carried by a reduced diameter shank S.

Adapter 200 has a cylindrical body 201 with a cylindrical bore 202therein just large enough to slidably receive the poll P of a standardhammer therein through its upper open end 204 as seen in FIG. 9. Thebottom of bore 202 is closed to provide a driving surface 205 to beengaged by the face F of poll P. A pair of diametrically opposedrecesses 206 are provided in body 201 along bore 212 in which leafsprings 208 are attached adjacent the upper end of bore 212. The lowerends 209 of springs 208 are resiliently urged out of recesses 206 intobore 202. The length of springs 208 is such that when the poll P isfully seated against surface 205, the ends 209 of the springs willproject out over poll P at its juncture with shank S to lock the adapter200 on hammer I-I.

Withdrawing pins 210 are connected to the backside of ends 209 andextend out of body 201 through holes 211. This allows pins 210 to begrasped and ends 209 to be withdrawn from bore 202 for removal ofadapter 200 from hammer H. Since the major force applied to adapter 200is encountered when starting and driving a nail as is apparent, thestrength of springs 208 need not be great.

The body 201 is provided with a poll 214 forward of the poll P in bore212. Poll 2114 is slightly smaller in diameter than body 201 to form anoverhanging portion 215 corresponding to portion 21 in hammer 10. Slots216, recesses 218 and projections 219 are provided which correspond inlocation and use to slots 24, recesses 25 and projections 26 of hammer10. The body 201 is magnetized similarly to the head 11 of hammer 10 tostart nails.

MEASURING DEVICE FIG. 10 shows hammer 10 with its handle 12 equippedwith an inside-outside measuring device 50. The device 50 includes acalibrated member 51 which is slidably received in a longitudinallyextending passageway 52 in handle 12. The protruding end of member 51 isprovided with an abutment 54, the forward end 55 of which engages therear end 56 of handle 12. A leaf spring tensioning device 58 is carriedin passageway 52 and retained by notches 59. The device 58 resilientlyengages one edge of member 51 to frictionally retain it in selectedposition.

The top edge of member 51 as seen in FIG. 10 is calibrated for outsidemeasuring as indicated by indicia 60. Thus, when the outside of anobject is to be measured, the forward edge 55 of abutment 54 is placedon one side of the object and the rear edge 56 of handle 12 is abuttedagainst the opposite side of the object. The correct measurement is thenindicated by the indicia 60 in alignment with the rear edge 56 of handle12.

Because it is frequently desirable to measure the inside distancebetween objects such as studs in walls, the bottom edge of member 51 iscalibrated for inside measuring as indicated by indicia 70. The indicia70 takes into account the length of handle 12 and head 11 as well as theabutment 54 so that when the forward edge of head 11 is placed againstone object and the rear edge 71 of abutment 54 is placed against theother object, the indicia 70 aligned with the rear end 56 of handle 12will indicate the total distance between the objects.

LEVELING DEVICE Referring now to FIG. 11, the hammer is shown with itshandle 12 equipped with a leveling device 75. Device 75 has a first unit76 constructed and arranged to indicate when the straight line L joiningthe outermost point P-l of poll 14 with the outennost point P4 of handle12 is vertical. Device 75 also has a second unit 78 constructed andarranged to indicate when line L is horizontal. Each unit 76 and 78 iscarried in a hole 79 through handle 12 and includes a slightly curvedfluid tube 80 filled with liquid and having an air bubble therein.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein,it is to be understood that full use may be made of modifications,substitutions, and equivalents without departing from the scope of theinventive concept.

I claim:

1. A hammer construction including a head comprising a poll and nailpositioning means for carrying a nail for starting the driving thereof,said nail positioning means including:

a support defining a plurality of nail body receiving slots orientedgenerally parallel to the centerline of said head and a plurality ofnail head receiving recesses, one of said recesses communicating witheach of said slots at that end opposite said poll and arranged toposition a nail carried therein so that its point extends a prescribeddistance beyond the face of said poll; and,

a plurality of projections carried by said support, one of saidprojections overlying each of said recesses opposite said slot, saidhead being magnetized to retain a nail in said slots to start same, saidslots being ordered in arrangement from shortest to longest and arrangedso that said projection associated with each of said slots except saidprojection of said longest slot extends over the next adjacent slot,that portion of each said projection extending over said adjacent slotbeing undercut to define a hooked tip on said projection overlying aportion of said adjacent slot to allow a nail to be. inserted in saidslot yet be partially retained by said hooked tip.

2. An adapter constructed and arranged to fit onto the head of a hammerfor carrying a nail during the starting of the driving thereof, saidadapter including:

a body defining an open ended bore therein adapted to receive saidhammer head and a poll in said body;

a plurality of nail body receiving slots defined in said body andoriented generally parallel to the centerline of said body and aplurality of nail head receiving recesses, one of said recessescommunicating with each of said slots at that end opposite said poll andarranged to position a nail carried therein so that its point extends aprescribed distance beyond the face of said poll; and,

a plurality of projections carried by said body, one of said projectionsoverlying each of said recesses opposite said slot, said body beingmagnetized to retain a nail in said slots to start same, said slotsbeing ordered in arrangement from shortest to longest 4 and arranged sothat said projection associated with each of said slots except saidprojection of said long slot extends over the next adjacent slot, thatportion of each said projection extending over said adjacent slot beingundercut to define a hooked tip on said projection overlying a portionof said adjacent slot to allow a nail to be inserted in said slot yet bepartially retained by said hooked tip.

3. The adapter of claim 2 further including holding means for releasablymaintaining said hammer head in said bore.

4. The adapter of claim 3 for mounting on the head of a hammer having apoll and defining an abutment behind said head poll wherein said holdingmeans includes a plurality of resilient members carried by said bodywithin said bore and constructed and arranged to engage said abutment tohold said adapter onto said head; and manually engagable withdrawalmembers operatively connected to said resilient members for selectivelyreleasing said resilient members from engagement with said abutment.

1. A hammer construction including a head comprising a poll and nailpositioning means for carrying a nail for starting the driving thereof,said nail positioning means including: a support defining a plurality ofnail body receiving slots oriented generally parallel to the centerlineof said head and a plurality of nail head receiving recesses, one ofsaid recesses communicating with each of said slots at that end oppositesaid poll and arranged to position a nail carried therein so that itspoint extends a prescribed distance beyond the face of said poll; and, aplurality of projections carried by said support, one of saidprojections overlying each of said recesses opposite said slot, saidhead being magnetized to retain a nail in said slots to start same, saidslots being ordered in arrangement from shortest to longest and arrangedso that said projection associated with each of said slots except saidprojection of said longest slot extends over the next adjacent slot,that portion of each said projection extending over said adjacent slotbeing undercut to define a hooked tip on said projection overlying aportion of said adjacent slot to allow a nail to be inserted in saidslot yet be partially retained by said hooked tip.
 2. An adapterconstructed and arranged to fit onto the head of a hammer for carrying anail during the starting of the driving thereof, said adapter including:a body defining an open ended bore therein adapted to receive saidhammer head and a poll in said body; a plurality of nail body receivingslots defined in said body and oriented generally parallel to thecenterline of said body and a plurality of nail head receiving recesses,one of said recesses communicating with each of said slots at that endopposite said poll and arranged to position a nail carried therein sothat its point extends a prescribed distance beyond the face of saidpoll; and, a plurality of projections carried by said body, one of saidprojections overlying each of said recesses opposite said slot, saidbody being magnetized to retain a nail in said slots to start same, saidslots being ordered in arrangement from shortest to longest and arrangedso that said projection associated with each of said slots except saidprojection of said long slot extends over the next adjacent slot, thatportion of each said projection extending over said adjacent slot beingundercut to define a hooked tip on said projection overlying a portionof said adjacent slot to allow a nail to be inserted in said slot yet bepartially retained by said hooked tip.
 3. The adapter of claim 2 furtherincluding holding means for releasably maintaining said hammer head insaid bore.
 4. The adapter of claim 3 for mounting on the head of ahammer having a poll and defining an abutment behind said head pollwherein said holding means includes a plurality of resilient memberscarried by said body within said bore and constructed and arranged toengage said abutment to hold said adapter onto said head; and manuallyengagable withdrawal members operatively connected to said resilientmembers for selectively releasing said resilient members from engagementwith said abutment.